Area 51

Hello michaelwjones - I sent you a message.

Hello Captain - In my dream I'm buying your La Scalas. That electrostatic dream (could I do that with a pair of Magnepan SMGa's?) looks very cool but I'm dreaming of La Scalas in my shop. Problem? I'm here - and you're there. Once again I am reminded of the line from that old Walter Egan song, "Just The Wanting" which seems to so often apply to audio: "... and the joy is in the chase".

Hello jimjimbo - I would like to buy some of your 12AU7 pairs. I have sent a message and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, geo

Hello Captain, I'd like to buy your 6sn7 quad, please. I have sent a message and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, geo (Area 51)

To be perfectly honest I liked the amp enough to experiment with two; hoping to find that elusive audio nirvana eluding me with my current setup: one Aegir and two Vidars. I can't avoid the suspicion that I have made myself the victim of unrealistic expectations. But, I think of an old Walter Egan line: "and the joy is in the chase" - (Just The Wanting) by Walter Egan on Not Shy. You may find that the Aegir does it for you. It seems to work for a lot of listeners; some on this forum. Good luck! I wish you the best.

Super! This raises a couple of issues I have been wondering about for a while. May I preface my question(s) with an apology if my ignorance gets in the way of anyone's genuine learning. I'm still new at this. Captain, I think I understand "as little speaker wire in the way as possible." Is it safe to assume that means longer interconnects are preferable to longer speaker wires? Can we regard that as a general rule? I have just received my 2nd Aegir and would like to experiment with them as mono blocks powering my Cornwalls and later try them out with my recently acquired Belles. Should I locate my newest Aegir and it's twin as close as possible to each of the Cornwalls and live with longer interconnects from my Freya+ pre amp? I also wanted to experiment with a pair of low power tube amps as well. Schiit offers the option to use the Aegirs in mono mode. My cheap tube amps are twins but do not offer the mono option. They are stereo amplifiers. Can I use them as (mono?) blocks with my Cornwall IIIs? If each amp is powering one speaker does the "mono block" terminology go away and does it take any dual amplifiers benefits with it or would this be just another form of bi amping? Thanks in advance for the lesson. I appreciate any input.

WOW !

A largely under appreciated album, it's one of my all time favorites.

That's interesting. I have seen "there is no preamp like no preamp. Go direct." And, I have seen "the preamp is most important". I hope to experiment with both. I suppose it depends on the other links in the chain?

Where do I sign?

This is a fascinating subject. Since most of us own Klipsch speakers how much power do we really need?

Yes. Most of us have efficient Klipsch speakers. I think you're on to something. I find it very interesting. Especially at $200. Sounds like fun.

Did you do it? What are your impressions?

I'll second that.

Go Bucks! BIG BUCKS !

I have no words.

Thanks for your input, artto. It's the bargain aspect of these amps I find appealing as I am forced to feed this new audio addiction on a shoestring budget (I spent all my money buying Klipsch speakers). On paper the A50 looks pretty good. I'm sorry to learn your experience with this amp hasn't been better. The A10 is interesting even if it's not a "true SET zero negative feedback amp". I have ordered some adaptors so I can try some 12AX7 tubes. I the A12 is the same as the A10 wired for 12AX7 tubes, isn't it? Do you know anything about the A20 or MT-34? The MT-34 is push-pull. The A20 blurb reads: "uses no big loop feedback technology". I don't know how reliable any of these claims may be (the A10 is described as "Single-end Class-A") but there you are; 8w per channel.

Yeah, me too, thank you. There are a lot of people here with a lot of good experience. I'm hoping somebody with some electronics knowledge can educate me about voltage regulators. Like: can I use a power strip to add more outlets? And, the bi amping thing is interesting. I wonder if a pair of my bargain Chinese amplifiers would work well with my high efficiency Klipsch speakers?

Thank you epictetus21! I really appreciate your suggestions. I have been looking at voltage regulators. Is the Tripp Lite ($94), which also claims to be a "power conditioner" and has 6 outlets, worth almost twice as much money as the APC LE1200 Line-R ($57) with 4 outlets? Can I use an extension cord or power strip for more outlets? Due to some unexpected delays I haven't even opened the boxes yet so my own A/B comparisons (6P1 vs. A10, A12, A20, A50 and MT-34) won't begin until next week when I have to decide what to keep. The 6P1 does have one advantage already, though: cost. They're cheap. In fact, I picked up two at bargain prices. So, I'm wondering if they might be used bi-amping. Any thoughts?

As much as it pains me to say it: Congratulations to Coach Harbaugh and the Michigan football Wolverines. Good luck in the Big 10 Championship game. Me? I'm rooting for Luke and the Cincinnati Bearcats. and always, win or lose, GO BUCKS!

The late Keith Emerson, right?

Oh yeah. GO BUCKEYES ! I should be in bed so I can get up early and catch the pre-game festivities but I'm so excited I can't sleep!

I guess that proves:

"Remastered" doesn't always mean better, does it?

That's an interesting subject and you folks here would certainly be among the best to ask. It opens the subject of "Direct to Disc" recordings: a technique I know nothing about. Any thoughts? A separate but also interesting subject: Is "remastering" another topic worthy of discussion?